Former Hampshire chief constable faces misconduct charges over affairs with junior officers
Scott Chilton, ex-chief constable of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police, is being heard for abusing his position in two relationships with subordinate officers and pressuring one to delete messages.
During a misconduct hearing, former chief constable Scott Chilton was accused of exploiting his rank to engage in sexual relationships with two junior officers, both of whom later attained the rank of inspector. The first affair, which Chilton said began while he was married, involved sexual activity while he was on duty and ended when he visited the officer’s station in a car. Weeks after assuming the chief constable role in February 2023, he entered a second relationship and allegedly coerced the officer to delete text messages to conceal it.
The tribunal outlined four charges, including repeated nondisclosure and attempts to avoid referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Chilton, who retired prematurely in April 2025, admitted to one historic relationship but strongly disputed the second, and his legal team withdrew due to his medical condition. The hearing proceeded without his presence, overseen by chairwoman Michelle Skeer.
